Fish market

The Fish market is a fish market in central Bruges featuring a Classical arcade structure with graceful arches built in 1820. Vendors display fresh seafood from the North Sea daily on wooden counters and in open boxes for customers to examine.

In the 18th century, city officials moved the fish trade from Market Square to this separate location to keep odors away from the town center. The current arcade structure was built in 1820 and reflects the growing importance of fish commerce in Bruges.

The market serves as a meeting place where locals gather to select fish and chat with vendors who know their preferences. Shopping here is woven into the daily routine of Bruges residents, especially during weekend visits.

The market operates Wednesday through Saturday mornings when the freshest catch is available, so weekday visits offer better selection than other times. Getting there is convenient from the Langestraat parking area, and arriving early in the morning gives you the widest choice of seafood.

This is Belgium's oldest preserved fish market facility and shows how robustly 19th century architecture was built to last. The arcades have withstood centuries of wind and water and still function exactly as originally designed.